I want to express my support for H.R. 375 and H.R. 312 because they bring all tribes, including the Mashpee Tribe, onto an even footing with all the other tribes for having land acquired in trust under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

I am very sympathetic to the tribe in Massachusetts, and I could get myself into serious trouble...

I will have an open mind on this and I appreciate what the Chairman is doing, and just starting off with the name of the Act, the RESPECT Act.

I still have a tendency to side with the history, the heritage, and everything else.

I think we have to change the behavior of the Federal Government, and particularly their attitude with Native Americans, Indigenous People.

I would be very, very careful of anybody from Washington. Don't trust them.

I am pleased that the Department of the Interior has included in its budget proposal a new initiative to combat crime, specifically against Native American women in Indian Country.

American Indians are victims of violent crimes at rates higher than the general population.

I voted for VAWA. What I need, and I am not an attorney or anything else. I just want to do something in terms of how we can do it.

The trends of high rates of domestic violence against Native women continue, despite the enactment of two major laws since 2010.

I hope the Chairman might join me in requesting a briefing from the Departments of the Interior and Justice to advance our efforts to help bring about a positive resolution to the missing, murdered Indigenous women crisis.